Last week someone said to me, “Oh! You’re the blogger.” And it occurred to me that if I’m going to claim to be a blogger, I should probably sometimes write on my blog. So I’m back!
This post is addressed to my Minister’s Wife, my Ministry Wife friends, and any other Ministry Wives that may stumble upon this. And if you’re not a ministry wife, please read this as it may help you to thank God for any that you know. You could even share it with them! 🙂
Dear Ministry Wife,
Thank you for giving your husband to your church – or the organisation he works for. Thank you for all the evenings when he’s spending time with other people, and not you (or your children). Thank you for not resenting this. The Lord sees you, and he’s got your reward ready and waiting.
Thank you for giving up the hopes and dreams you may have once had, to own a home, to decorate your home a certain way, to travel to certain parts of the world, or maybe to eat in certain restaurants. Maybe your husband left a lucrative job to do the job he has now. Maybe you just know that he could be earning much more doing something else. Thank you for storing up your treasure in heaven. Thank you that we benefit from that because he’s invested so much in our lives, and we, in turn, are learning to store up our treasure in heaven, too.
Thank you for all of the times we’ve used your home as our home. Thank you for the Bible studies, the women’s breakfasts, the men’s breakfasts, the Christmas socials and all the other events that have happened in your living room. Maybe you’d rather have been curled up with a book on your sofa. Thank you for your hospitality.
Thank you for giving yourself to the ministry, too. Thank you for all the prayers, the hugs, the listening, the counselling and the love. You didn’t have to do that. Thank you for following in your Master’s footsteps by becoming our servant. Thank you for all the times you’ve done this without anyone noticing or saying thank you.
There’ll never be an International Ministry Wives Day. (Actually, anything can happen but I’d be very surprised if that ever did!) However, I hope you know that you’re loved and appreciated. And I hope and pray that, above all else, you’ll delight in the Lord. The Father first gave his One and Only Son for you. The Son gave up the riches of heaven for you, and was willing to wander, homeless, in this dark and dangerous world for you. He gave himself up for you, and for me.
We love because he first loved us. 1 John 4:19
Mum in Zone One 